School officials worried push to stay open might have led to COVID-19 transmission Superintendent says virus may be transmitting in school Share Updated: 7:08 PM EST Jan 28, 2021 Superintendent says virus may be transmitting in school Share Updated: 7:08 PM EST Jan 28, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript SUPERINTENDENTS ARE RAISING CONCERNS TONIGHT. WMUR’S CHERISE LECLERC TELLS US HOW ONE DISTRICT IS WORRIED ITS PUSH TO STAY OPEN MAY HAVE CAUSED A COVID CLUSTER. CHARISSE -- CHERISE: CENTER WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WEARE IS IN REMOTE LEARNING THROUGH AT LEAST FEBRUARY 3, AS THE DISTRICT DEALS WITH A COVI CLUSTER SUPERINTENDENT DR, JACQUELINE COE SAYS THEY’ SEEING EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING NEW -- TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS INSIDE THE SCHOOL. >> WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR PRACTICES BECAUSE WE WERE FEELING GOOD ABOUT OUR PLAN AND THE FACT THAT WE HAD NOT HAD TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS ALSO PUTS US IN A CRITICAL STAFFING SITUATION. CHERISE: THEY HAVE AT LEAST 9 STAFF MEMBERS NOW NEEDING TO QUARANTINE AT CENTER WOODS SCHOOL AND EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO RISE. THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 CONFIRM CASES OF COVID TIED TO THE CLUSTER. >> I’M A LITTLE WORRIED RIGHT NOW THAT OUR EFFORTS TO STAY OPEN ACTUALL CAUSED THIS CLUSTER, THAT PROBABLY WE SHOU HAVE SHIFTED TO REMOTE EARLIER, AND I’M NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THAT. CHERISE: SHE SAYS THAT’S BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN IN-PERSON LEARNING, INCLUDING USING SUBSITUTES AND REASSIGNING STAFF MEMBERS FOR COVERAGE MIXING UP COHORTS OPENING THEM UP TO EXPOSURES. NOW WITH THE STATE’S UPDATED GUIDANCE ON LEARNING SUGGESTING THERE’S NO NEED FOR FULL SCHOOLS TO GO REMOTE BECAUSE OF EXPOSURES OR COMMUNI TRANSMISSION, SHE HAS CONCERNS. >> IF I HAD UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTES, PERHAPS WE COULD STAY OPEN, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. >> WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN EACH COMMUNITY, SO THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE G